Tatiana Corbitt

Tatiana Maria Corbitt is a 24-year old first-generation university graduate born and raised in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. They earned their M.S. in Applied Biological Sciences from Arizona State University, where they also published their undergraduate Barrett, the Honors College thesis investigating the FAA’s research and regulation of insulin-treated diabetic pilots. They are happy to report that a year following the publication of their thesis, the FAA lifted their unwarranted regulations of insulin-treated diabetic pilots. Tatiana continues to be passionate about the use of science in advocating for equal rights.

Tatiana began experiencing severe symptoms of type 1 narcolepsy in their junior year of college. They managed to graduate but have since lost two jobs due to the severity of their symptoms despite trying a plethora of treatment and workplace accommodation options. They strive to be transparent in their struggles to reduce the amount of shame that people with narcolepsy might feel due to their limitations.

After studying the benefits of service dogs in managing other disabilities and chronic illnesses, they raised and trained a German Shepherd from 8 weeks old to help manage some of their narcolepsy symptoms. They hope to pass on some of their knowledge to those interested in training their own service dogs, and impart tips and tricks on how they managed to do so with such a debilitating disease such as narcolepsy.

Tatiana is a passionate artist and writer. They continually find inspiration from the late and great Frida Kahlo, another disabled artist and activist. Tatiana admires the fiery passion that fueled the late Frida Kahlo to defy her own odds and continually finds comfort in her words and poignant imagery.

“I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” – Frida Kahlo

Click here to read all of Tatiana's articles on Narcolepsy.Sleep-Disorders.net